• MelianPretext@lemmygrad.ml
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    American biotechnology companies commercially exploit genetic resources obtained at low cost from developing countries and apply for patent protection, so as to gain huge profits.

    Meanwhile on CNN today: "China’s sitting on a goldmine of genetic data – and it doesn’t want to share" https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/11/china/china-human-genetic-resources-regulations-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

    • DamarcusArt@lemmygrad.ml
      ·
      1 year ago

      That headline makes it sounds like the US wants to grind the Chinese populace up into genetic slop and use it to produce soylent green or something.

      • Eat_Yo_Vegetables69@lemmygrad.ml
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Or the US want to use that data to create bioweapons to target specific peoples, sounds about right since they absorbed not only nazi scientists but also members of the infamous unit 731 post ww2

        • DamarcusArt@lemmygrad.ml
          ·
          1 year ago

          I think that sort of dystopian sci-fi tech is completely unfeasible though. People just aren't different enough genetically (and our immune systems aren't different enough) that any attempt at creating a supervirus that infects only a single ethnic group just flat out wouldn't work, and would just target people indiscriminately.

          • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
            ·
            edit-2
            1 year ago

            Yeah, but the way defense procurement works they could probably make billions of dollars on the grift that they can make a genetically targetable virus. Just look at those ridiculous Littoral Combat Ships that are being decommissioned only a few years after rolling out of the shipyard.